Principals To Give Reports To Nazareth School Board

A new school board agenda format, instituted by John Jenkins, Nazareth's new superintendent, calls for a brief monthly report from each building principal.

Bushkill School Principal Kenneth Butz reported 438 students at the beginning of school, and few problems on opening day, other than the usual tears and minor confusion for first timers. Butz said 275 people attended the first PTA meeting. He said $101,000 in federal Chapter I funding was approved, and another $17,000 for Chapter II funding is forthcoming. Chapter I funds cover summer school and remedial teachers throughout the district. Chapter II funds are for library and audiovisual materials.

Lower Nazareth School Principal Randy Polinski reported 381 first-day students, with 181 attending the first PTA meeting. Butz and Polinski said a summer mathematics workshop for teachers was well-attended. Several Lower Nazareth students have entered a writing contest.

John Caprari, Floyd R. Shafer School principal, reported 581 students and some new programs at the school. A quarterly coffee klatch will allow parents to meet with staff to discuss concerns. The Cat and Mouse program, teaching children how to react to strangers and possible abuse, will be instituted. Caprari also said the Shafer PTA will send a representative to school board meetings to report to the PTA. The school's first PTA meeting is tonight.

Junior High Principal Robert Jones reported 715 students, and the initiation of several new courses, including health for 7th graders, computer keyboard literacy for 9th graders, and additional courses in home economics, art and industrial arts.

The Cardinal Chirp, the junior high newspaper, was given a good rating by the Pennsylvania Press Association, for 1984-85, according to Jones.

The senior high had 752 first-day students, according to Principal Victor Lesky, who announced Nazareth had a National Merit semifinalist, Lynn Hopwood, and four seniors who received commendations.

Homecoming will be Oct. 4.

In official business, the board approved tenure status for Krista Hoch, a teacher at Shafer. Brad Knecht was approved as a junior high science teacher, and Kathy Keck was appointed social studies elementary curriculum leader. Francis Freidhoff was appointed secondary science department chairman.

All advisory and coaching positions, under the extra pay/extra duty contract for 1985-86, were approved.

The senior high band will compete at Central High School in Martinsburg, Blair County, Oct. 5, before traveling to Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, for evening competition.

The junior high band will participate in the Pulaski Day parade Oct. 6 in Philadelphia and the Halloween parade Oct. 20 in Bethlehem, after board action.

Claude Shappelle was appointed coordinator of the district's compilation of the state five-year long range plan. Shappelle served in the same capacity during the last five-year plan, which spells out the educational goals and implementation of the district. The board also adopted the state's Twelve Goals of Quality Education as part of participating in the long-range plan, and endorsed participation in Cycle Two of the state-mandated long-range plan.

The board authorized the sale of used teachers' desks from the former district junior high. Jenkins will set prices and advertise a sale date and place.

Butz, three district reading specialists and three parents were given permission to attend the 11th annual Chapter I Parent Awareness Conference Oct. 7 in White Haven. Chapter I funds will be used to pay for the conference. Transportation will be in a district van.

Marian Smith, district reading specialist, was given permission to attend a one-day Chapter I training workshop at Colonial Northampton Intermediate Unit 20 in Nazareth. There is no expense to the district.

The board also approved the appointment of three TELLS (Testing, Essential Learning and Literacy Skills) teaching aides for the three elementary schools - Joanne Kelly, Carolyn Musser and Jane Lutz. They will be paid $6.66 per hour for a maximum of 500 hours each during the 1985-86 school year. The funding will come from the state.